4.3 - Create Space
What Is It?
To create space means to create separation from you and the defender(s) pressuring you. There are many different ways we can create space with the puck, and the more methods you practice and add to your arsenal, the more dynamic of a puck carrier you will be.
When to Use It
Basic read for creating space:
- When pressure closes in on you: Use tactics to create space when you feel pressure is closing in on you. The goal is to keep the puck always at least 2 stick lengths away from a defender. If you find yourself already within 2 stick lengths of a defender, you must use puck protection until you can escape and create space.
Advanced reads for creating space:
- Turn the defender’s toe-caps: Get their toe-caps facing one direction, and you escape the other direction.
- Get the defender to lean one direction: Use a quick move to get the defender leaning one direction, and you escape the other way.
- Bait the poke check: Cause the defender to reach for a poke check, and exploit this momentum by cutting or slipping the puck the other way.
- Create a speed differential: Cause the defender to either speed up or slow down, and then you do the opposite - slam on the brakes to create a gap or quickly speed up to create separation.
- Open the defender’s triangle: Cause the defender to open and expose their triangle. Take advantage of these openings with a quick slip or chip through their feet or under their stick
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